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After 42 years members of Pilton WI met for the last time at the Barnstaple Hotel for Christmas dinner, 2013. The institute, founded in 1971, had been struggling to retain members for three years. Pam Truluck, 74, president of the group said the 12 remaining members were sad to see it end. “It is one of those things,” she said. “We are all getting old and the younger ones work and don’t want to know. “We are all very sad about it. We have had about 12 or 13 members recently but eight of those are committee members.

But despite the sad end to the story, Pam, from Roundswell, said the group have had some exciting adventures over the years that won’t be forgotten. “We have taken part in the hospice knit and the litter-pick for Barnstaple and back in the summer on the last day of the litter-pick we had to do a fashion show with recycled clothes made from M&S and Sainsbury’s bags,” said Pam. She was insistent the remaining members of the group will still organise days out together. “We did say we would try and get together once a month and go out for coffee or meet at the garden centre because it would be a shame if we didn’t keep in touch.”

Back row: l-r Rita Gould, Mary Davey, Val Elkins, Joy Morley, Beryl Paull, Mary Williams, Pet Harley, Sheila Armstrong, Stella??; Middle row: Maureen Firby, Jackie Byrne, Diana Surman, Janet Palmer, Margaret Hawkins, Joan Phillips; Front Row: Mary Biederman, Joan Beard, Pam Truluck, Pat Colwill, Margaret Scott

Thanks to the North Devon Journal, photographer Rob Tibbles and reporter, Francesca Taffs, for permission to use the story and picture.